Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis)
$4.00
Out of stock
Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower)
Perennial
A jewel of native stream banks and wetland edges, Cardinal Flower stops people in their tracks with its intense, almost unreal scarlet-red spikes. Few native plants rival its brilliance in the late-summer garden, and fewer still can match its importance to hummingbirds fueling up for fall migration.
🌿 Key Traits
Incandescent Color: Produces tall spikes of the most vivid scarlet-red found in any native perennial — a true showstopper from across the yard.
Elegant Spires: Upright stems typically reach 2–4 feet, bearing densely packed tubular flowers that open progressively up the spike over several weeks.
Rich Dark Foliage: Deep green, lance-shaped leaves with a slight bronzy cast provide handsome contrast to the brilliant blooms.
Short-Lived but Self-Renewing: Individual plants live 2–3 years but reliably produce offsets and self-sow, naturalizing into long-lived colonies over time.
☀️ Growing Conditions
Light: ☀️🌤️ Full Sun to Part Shade (appreciates afternoon shade in hot climates; thrives at a woodland edge near water).
Soil: 🌱 Prefers rich, moist to wet soils; an ideal choice for rain gardens, pond margins, and low spots that stay consistently damp.
Water: 💧 Medium to high; moisture-loving and not drought-tolerant — consistent watering is key, especially in full sun.
Hardiness: ❄️ Zones 3–9 (cold-hardy and widely adaptable across North America).
🌎 Ecological Benefits
Hummingbird Lifeline: The tubular red flowers are perfectly engineered for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, which are its primary pollinator and visit it with extraordinary frequency during migration.
Butterfly Nectar Source: Swallowtails and other long-tongued butterflies regularly work the spikes alongside hummingbirds for a dramatic late-summer display.
Specialist Bee Plant: Several long-tongued native bees, including certain bumblebee species, are able to access its nectar and serve as secondary pollinators.
Riparian Habitat Support: A cornerstone plant of streamside and wetland ecosystems, Cardinal Flower stabilizes moist banks and supports the full web of life that depends on healthy wetland edges.
Image credit: Hardy plants